Classes 2025
Term 4 is the time when we complete the 2024 school year as well as prepare for 2025.  One of the major tasks this term is to prepare classes for 2025.  Teachers and staff members use their professional expertise in making decisions, seeking to create equitable class groupings considering all students.  All classes/grades will be regrouped for 2025.  

Optimising the learning environment is the prime focus when forming new class groups for 2025, not forming friendship groups.  The aim is to provide classes in which each child is able to continue to develop to their full potential.  

If there is a particular issue regarding your child’s learning for 2024, please write to Mr Barrington, via email, stating your concerns and requests.  You are invited to be proactive rather than reactive.  Please note that this is not an opportunity to request individual teachers, but an opportunity to state a particular issue that might impact on your child’s learning in 2025.  All requests will be considered but NOT NECESSARILY GUARANTEED.  Please send your email requests to info@stmdow.catholic.edu.au marked to the attention of Mr Barrington by Friday 8th November 2024.  Further requests regarding class placement will not take place after this date.  Please note that because we are committed to the belief that each child begins each school year anew, we do not retain information regarding these requests from previous years.  

This is the time to raise any issues regarding your child’s learning for 2024.  After all requests have been considered the school will make the final decision regarding all placements.  

If your child is not returning to St Thomas More Catholic Parish Primary School Ruse in 2025, could you please notify the School Office as soon as possible.   There is a ‘School Leavers’ form that needs to be completed.

P&F AGM Meeting 2024
All parents and carers of St Thomas More Catholic Parish Primary School are invited to the Annual General Meeting of the St Thomas More Parents and Friends Association for 2024.  All positions on the P&F Executive are declared vacant and a voting process will occur.  We are now calling for nominations for the election of Office Bearers. There are four Executive positions that are required to be filled by parents plus membership in general committees, such as fundraising, hospitality and Fete Committee.  There is a nomination form that you can complete and return to the School Office and as well you may nominate at the AGM. Paper copies of the nomination form are available from the School Office. Self nominations are also being accepted. 

St Thomas More Parents And Friends Association

2024 AGM

Monday 11th November 2024

School Library

7.00pm 

All parents and carers are welcome to attend

Aims and Objectives of the St Thomas More Parents and Friends Association

1. The Association recognises and values the role that parents/carers play in the education of their children and aims to strengthen the partnership between family, school, parish and the wider community for the benefit of their children’s overall development and learning.
2. The Association will endeavour to do this by:
1. promoting the faith-life and educational goals of the school in the context of its particular role within the mission of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Wollongong;
2. fostering effective partnerships involving parents/carers, students, staff, parish, and diocese for the provision of authentic Catholic education within a quality learning environment;
3. providing a parental perspective to assist the Principal in decision making;
4. collaborating at all times in a cooperative manner with the school Principal and consulting with the Principal in matters relating to the educational needs of the school, staff and students;
5. raising funds to provide resources and opportunities for enriching the learning environment of the school, in consultation with the Parish Priest and Principal;
6. supporting parents/carers in their parental responsibilities and involvement in their children’s education at home and at school;
7. providing a forum where matters relating to the education and development of students can be discussed productively; 
8. promoting appropriate social contact among the parents and friends of the school; and
9. providing a means for parents/carers to affiliate with the Diocese of Wollongong Parent Forum.

Roles of the P&F Executive Committee

Role of President
The President plans for an efficient and well-run P&F Association. 

The President’s role is to:

• provide leadership and direction for the P&F  
• work collaboratively and cooperatively with the Principal and Parish Priest 
• promote the aims and objectives of the P&F
• support other members of the Executive Committee 
• schedule, plan and preside over meetings of the P&F as Chairperson*
• schedule, plan and preside over meetings of the Executive Committee 
• attend to incoming and outgoing correspondence as presented by the Secretary between meetings and follow up on action arising from previous meetings
• be familiar with the standard form Constitution 

* this can be allocated to another member of the Executive Committee

Attendance requirements:

• one Executive Meeting each term 
• one General Meeting each term
• any other meeting that may be required with committees (if established)
• attend any school function that requires P&F representation

Role of Vice President

The Vice President’s role may be viewed as an opportunity to learn more about the President’s role. 

The Vice-President’s role is to: 

• chair P&F meetings when the President is absent 
• assist the President in attending official school and parent functions
• be familiar with the standard form Constitution

Attendance requirements:

• one Executive Meeting each term
• one General Meeting each term
• any other meeting that may be required with committees (if established) 
• attend any school function that requires P&F representation, if requested by the President

Role of Secretary 

The Secretary’s role is central to the efficient operation of the P&F Association. 

Between meetings, the Secretary’s role is to:

• attend to inward and outward correspondence and brief the President
• distribute minutes, information and correspondence to P&F members as required
• maintain records of minutes, information and all correspondence 
• liaise with the school regarding P&F matters such as the publication of meeting minutes and communication of events 
• be familiar with the standard form Constitution and maintain a record of it 

Before meetings, the Secretary’s role is to:

• organise meetings (including agenda and venue. NB: the agenda is finalised at an Executive Committee meeting)
• notify members of the date, time and venue of meetings, and the need for members to send agenda items, in writing, before the date of the next Executive Committee meeting. Notification requirements for meetings, as set out in the Constitution, are: 
• 10 days for General Meetings (cl 10)
• 14 days for the Annual General Meeting (cl 12)
• 7 days for a Special General Meeting (cl 13)

At meetings, the Secretary’s role is to:

• provide the agenda to attendees, and any relevant documents (prior approval must be given by Principal and Executive Committee)
• record the minutes 
• record attendance and advise President of visitors and apologies
• list and speak to important correspondence 

After meetings, the Secretary’s role is to: 

• finalise the minutes 

Attendance requirements:

• one Executive Meeting each term 
• one General Meeting each term
• any other meeting that may be required with committees (if established) 

Role of Treasurer

Management of the P&F Association’s finances requires skill and time. It is a position of trust and responsibility.

The Treasurer’s role is to:

• liaise with the school regarding financial matters relating to the P&F e.g. the safe custody of cash, the collection of invoices 
• keep accurate records of receipts and expenditure
• issue receipts for all money received
• bank money promptly and maintain proper financial records
• pay all accounts authorised by the meeting as soon as possible
• maintain petty cash to reimburse small expenses as required
• present a financial report at each General Meeting showing current receipts and expenditure and the outstanding balance
• organise an annual audit of all accounts and presenting an annual financial report at each Annual General Meeting
• be familiar with the standard form Constitution

Accounting procedures to follow:

• adhere to the P&F Finances section of the P&F Handbook, 2014 (pp 41 to 57)
• pay all accounts by EFT and record all payments
• arrange for monthly bank statements and reconcile deposit and cheque books with the statements
• keep the cash book up to date so that it can provide information if and when required
• manage petty cash by an imprest system 
• maintain separate profit and loss accounts for major projects/events e.g. social events, fundraising projects 
• have a budget in consultation with other members of the Executive Committee as a means of forward planning and to determine cash flow
• work alongside committees (if established) in setting budgets for events 

Best wishes for the coming week,

Philip Barrington 
PRINCIPAL